Traverse apparatus



Nov. 10, 1959 w. K. RAU, JR

TRAVERSE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 FIG.

INVENTORl W. K. RA U. JR.

ATTORNEY FIG. 2

United States Patent 2,912,187 TRAVERSE APPARATUS William K. Ran, Jr., Perry Hall, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Application November 15, 1957, Serial No. 696,780

14 Claims. (Cl. 242-158.4)

This invention relates to apparatus for reeling strand material, and more particularly, although not exclusively, to apparatus for distributing uniformly the strand upon the winding surface of a take-up reel as the strand is wound thereon.

This invention relates also to apparatus for causing intermittent operation of drive means, which may be used for reeling level layers of cable on a reel, for interrupting the reciprocating movement of the distributor adjacent to the opposing ends of the reels.

In the manufacture of multiconductor cables, especially the relatively fine stranded cables employed in the communications industry, insulated electrical conductors are drawn simultaneously from a plurality of supply reels and twisted together to form twisted pairs. The twisted pairs are stranded into units which, in turn, are cabled into a core. The core is then provided with some, kind of binding to keep the units in place. The core is wrapped longitudinally or spirally with an insulating core wrap prior to the formation of a sheath thereon by an extrusion process. The final sheathed product is directed continuously from the extruder to a take-up apparatus, by means of a capstan at a substantially contant linear speed in order that the extrusion operation may continue without disturbance or interruption. The take-up apparatus is provided with means to support a take-up reel and to rotate the reel about its axis to wind up the completed cable. In this manner the finished cable is reeled onto a take-up reel for storage or shipment to the customer.

It is desirable that the cable be distributed uniformly to lay successive convolutions of the cable side by side throughout the width of the reel drum and that successive layers of convolutions be placed, one upon another, until the reel is filled with the desired amount of cable. The cable is distributed on the reelduring the take-up operation by means of a distributor which reciprocates between adjustable limits and is provided with guide means positioned upon each side of the advancing cable.

The various types of take-up apparatus, in use at the present time, employ various types of distributing apparatus for directing the strand material, such as cables, back and forth across the winding surface of the take-up reel. In some cases the reel itself is moved laterally with respect to the delivery point of the strand being taken up thereby. In other cases, the strand is moved back and forth across the winding surface of the reel. In either case this type of take-up apparatus is generally referred to as the traverse type take-up apparatus, in which is provided a conventional traverse screw or other means driven at a timed relationship with respect to the speed of rotation of the take-up reel for traversing the reel or the distributing apparatus with respect to each other.

While such distributing apparatus are generally satisfactory, in that they distribute the strand uniformly as the distributor travels intermediate the flanges on the ends of the reels, they have been found less desirable in the application of successive convolutions of cable, one upon the other, in the region contacting the inside surfaces of the flanges. In the above-described distributing apparatus, when the movement of the distributor is stopped at the end-of-reel position, it is immediately reversed. However, with a delay of a predeterminedinterval of time between the stoppage of and reversal of the distributor to permit two convolutions of cable to be wound, one on top the other, in contact with the flanged head of the reel, a more satisfactory operation is performed;

It is an object of the present invention to provide ne and improved strand reeling apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for distributing a strand uniformly across the winding surface of a take-up reel.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide apparatus for controlling motors or other motivating means to cause intermittent operation thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for winding superimposed layers of convolutions of strand material on a take-up reel with successive convolutions placed, one upon the other, at each end of the reel.

A strand reeling apparatus for taking up an advancing strand upon a rotatably driven take-up reel embodying some of the principles of the present invention may include a take-up reel, a source of supply of strand material, drive means for rotating the reel to take up the strand material and strand guiding means for guiding the strand material onto the winding surface of the reel. Means are provided for causing relative reciprocating movement between the winding surfaceof the reel and the guiding means for forming superimposed layers of convolutions of the strand material on the reel. Means are provided for causing the strand guiding means to dwell for a predetermined period adjacent each end of the reel so that two successive convolutions of the strand material are placed, one on top of the other, adjacent to each end of the reel.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmental, front elevation view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit for the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; 1

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate the same or similar elements throughout the several views, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a strand reeling or take-up apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 10, for taking up a strand, designated generally by the numeral 11, which may be a sheathed cable, delivered at a substantially constant rate from an extruder (not shown) by a conventional strand advancing tractor capstan (not shown) driven by appropriate means (not shown).

The take-up apparatus 10 has a storage or shipping reel, designated generally by the numeral 12, of a conventional design which includesa cylindrical winding drum (not' shown) and a pair of flange-like heads 13 and 14 secured to the opposing ends thereof. The take-up reel 12 is positioned on conventional floor rollers 1616 driven by a variable speed motor 17 through a conventional gear re ducer 18 provided in a floor housing 19. The floor rollers 1616, through friction, impart rotation to the takeup reel 12 whereby the strand 11, which is illustrated as a sheathed cable, is wound upon the reel 12. I

It is important that as much cable 11 as possible be wound on the take-up reel 12 and that the convolutions of cable 11 lie uniformly thereon. In order ,to distribute the cable 11 evenly across the winding surface of the reel return to its normally open position when the carriage 27 is not in engagement with one of the abutment members 38 or 39.

In the take-up of large cables 11 on the reels 12 by means of the above-described take-up apparatus 10, it is desirable that a certain amount of delay in the movement of the distributor 21 be provided at each end of the reel 12 in order that a coil of cable 11 may be placed on the reel 12 immediately over the last convolution in the lower layer of convolutions of cable 11 prior to the re versal of the distributor 21. If such were not done, with particularly large cables, the distributor would start back immediately and, instead of one cable convolution being placed directly on top of the preceding one, spaces would occur into which the coils of cable 11 might fall when successive layers are wound upon the reel 12. This would result in uneven distribution of the cable 11, which may result in the convolutions of the cable 11 on the reel 12 becoming loose thus permitting them to slide with respect to each other and possibly result in damage to the cable 11 as a result of vibration during handling and shipping. In order to overcome this problem, a timing circuit of the present invention is utilized with the abovedescribed apparatus (see Fig. 3).

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown an electrical circuit, designated generally by the numeral 61, for controlling the operation of the distributor 21 0f the take-up apparatus. The electric circuit 61 includes two bus lines 62 and 63 supplied by a suitable 110 volt A.C. source of (not shown) through a suitable emergency stop switch 64. Connected across the bus lines 62 and 63 is a pair of motor start relays 66 and 67. The relay 66 is for causing normally-open contact pairs 74 and 75 to close, resulting in the energization of the motor 26 to cause it to be rotated in one direction. The other relay 67 is for causing normally-open contact pairs 79 and 80 to close, resulting in the energization of the motor 26 to cause it to operate in a reversed direction. The contact pairs 74, 75, 79 and 80 are in circuit with a pair of bus lines connected to a DC. source (not shown).

It will beassumed, for the purpose of the illustration, that the energization of the relay 66 and the closure of its associated normally-open contacts pairs 74 and 75 results in the motor 26 rotating the distributing screw 22 in a direction to cause the distributor 21 to move to the right, and that the energization of the relay 67 and the closure of its associated normally-open contact pairs 79 and 80 results in the motor 26 rotating the distributing screw 22 in a direction to cause the distributor 21 to move to the left, both as viewed in Fig. l.

The energization of the relay 66 also results in the closure of a normally-open contact pair 68, the closure of the contact pairs 74 and 75, and the opening of a normally-closed contact pair 69 connected in series with the relay 67. The energization of the relay 67 also results in the closure of a normally-open contact pair 71, the closure of the contact pairs 79 and 80, and the opening of a normally-closed contact pair 70 connected in series with the relay 66. I I

Connected across the bus lines 62 and 63 in parallel with each other and each in series with the associated limit switch 44 or 46, which are actuated by' the rod 41 through the actuation of the stop members 38 and 39, are two relays 72 and 73. The limit switch 44 is closed by the distributor carriage 27 when it reaches its end-ofreel travel toward the right-hand side of the take-up apparatus, as viewed in Fig. l. The closure of the limit switch 44 results in the energization of the relay 73 which, in turn, closes its associated normally-open con tact pairs 76 and 77 and opens its associated normallyclosed contact pair 78. The closure of the limit switch 46 results in the energization of the relay 72 which, in turn, closes its associated normally-open contact pairs 81 and 82 and opens its associated normally-closed contact pair 83. The normally-open contact pairs 76 and 81 associated with the relays 73 and 72, respectively, are connected in parallel with each other and in series with a timing device 86, which is known in the art and available commercially.

The timing device 86 is preferably fairly sensitive and accurate, and may be of the type which can be modified .so that it will have a varying length bf time delay between the time the timing device is energized and the time its associated normally-open, time-to-close contact pair 87 closes. In this manner, successive operations of the timing device 86 will result in a longerperiod of delay between the time the timing device 86 is energized and the time .its associated contact pair 87 is closed. This may be necessary because of the longer lengthof time required to wind the convolutions of the cable 11 on the reel 12 as the eifective diameter of the winding surface of the reel 12 is increased by the buildup of successive layers of convolutions of the cable 11 during the take-up process.

A start switch 88 is connected across the bus lines 62 and 63 in parallel with the contact pairs 68 and 78 which, in turn, are connected in series with the normally-closed contact pair 70 and the relay 66. When the start switch 88 is depressed the motor 17 is energized through a circuit (not shown) and the relay 66 is energized to cause the normally-open contact pair 68 to be closed and the normally-closed contact pair 69 to be opened. The motor relay 66 is therefore always energized by depressing a button 89 associated with the start switch 88 since the normally-closed contact pair 70 will always be closed at this time. This is so because the motor relay 67 will always be energized through the normally-open contact pair 77 which will result in the motor 26 always being energized through the actuation of the switch 44 asso ciated with the relay 73 causing the distributor 21 to move away from the right-hand side of the reel or away from the abutment member 38 as long as power is supplied to the circuit 61. V

In this way the motor relay 67 can never be energized by depressing the start button 89. However, it should be noted that if the distributing apparatus 21' is stopped at some position" other than adjacent to the left-hand flange 14 and it is desirable that the distributor 21 be moved toward the left-hand flange 14, the operator can push the rod 41 to the right to close the switch 44.

The closure of the switch 44 will result in the energization of the relay 73 to close the normally-open contact pairs 76 and 77 and open the normally-closed contact pair 78. The closing of the normally-open contact pair 76 will result in energization of the timing device 86 which, in turn, closes the contact pair 87 after a time delay.

The closure of the contact pair 87 results in the energization of the relay 67 through the now closed contact pairs 77 and 69. The energization of the relay 67 will result in the closure of the contact pairs 79 and to apply power to the circuit of the distributor motor 26, however, the motor 26 will not operate because of the interlocking means (not shown) between the motors 17 and 26. This is true because the interlock will cause the motor 26 to remain inoperative when the motor 17 is inoperative.v In this way the start switch 88 can then be closed to start the motor 17 and thus cause the takeup apparatus to operate and the distributor carriage 27 to move in a left-hand direction as. viewed in Fig. 1.

Operation For the purpose of the discussion of the operation of the apparatus of the invention, it will be assumed that the cable manufacturing apparatus (not shown) is ready for operation. Further, that the adjustable abutment or stop members 38 and 39 are set at the proper position and that a reel 12 is positioned on the floor rollers 16-16 and aligned centrally with respect to the stop members 38 and'39. In this manner, the distributor 21will distribute the cable 11 in uniform layers of convolutions extending from one flange 13 or 14 to the other flange 14 or '13 of the reel 12 asthe cable 11 is advanced continuously from the extruder by the capstan at a uniform rate.

Assuming that the distributor 21 is positioned adjacent to the left-hand side of the take-up reel 12 and the end of the cable 11 is lashed to the reel 12, the start button 89 will be depressed by the operator which will cause the mo tor 17 to be energized and the start switch 88 to close resulting in the energization of the relay 66. The energization of the relay 66 will-close the motor-start contact pairs 74 and 75 and contact pair 68 and will open the contact pair 69 resulting in the energization of the distributing motor 26 to rotate the distributing screw 22 to move-the distributing carriage 27 parallel to the winding surface of the drum of the reel 12 in a direction toward the right-hand flange '13, as viewed in Fig. 1. The closure of the contact pair 68 allows the relay 66 to continue to be energized through contact pairs 78, 68 and 70 when the switch 88 is opened when the operator releases the start button 89. The opening of the contact pair 69 prevents the relay 67 from being energized.

The strand-reeling or take-up apparatus is nowopcrating so the take-up reel 12 is in the process of being 7 filled. -As the cable 11 advances continuously the distributing carriage 27 is moved to distribute convolutions of cable 11 in uniform positions uponthe winding drum of the take-up reel '12. At such time as the distributor carriage 27 reaches the right-hand side of the reel 12, the distributor carriage 27 strikes the abutment member 38 to move the rod 41 to the right to operate the limitswitch actuator 43 resulting in the closure of the limit switch 44. The closure of the limit switch 44 results in the relay 73 being energized. The energization of the relay 73 results in the closure of its associated contact pairs 76 and '77 and the opening of the other contact pair 78.

Upon the closing of the contact pair 76, the circuit including the conventional timing device 86 is energized. Upon the opening of the other associated contact pair 78, a circuit which was previously closed through the closure of the contact pairs 68, 70 and 78 was opened to de-energize the relay 66. The de-energization of relay 66 results in the closure of the contact pair 69 and opening of the contact pairs 68,74 and 75. Therefore, the rnotor 26 will bepreeluded from further operation in the forward direction to move the distributor 21 to the right, as viewed in Fig. '1. At this time, the distributor carriage 27 will dwell or remain in a stationary position at the right-hand endof the reel 12, but the reel 12 will continue to be rotated by the floor rollers 16-46 to take up the cable 11 thereon and place two convolutions of the cable 11, one upon the other, at the end of the reel 12.

As the timing device 86 in the timing circuit is operated after a predetermined interval, which will .permit the two overlapping convolutions of cable '11 to be wound on the reel 12, the associated timing contact pair 87 will be closed which will permit a circuit to be completed through the contact pairs 77 and 69 to the relay 67. This 'causes'the relay '67 to be energized resulting in closure of the contact pairs 79 and 80 and the motor 26 being started in a reversed direction so that the distributor 21 will bereciprocated toward the left-hand side of the reel, as viewed in Fig. 1.

Upon the energization of the relay 67 and the start of the motor 26 in the reverse direction, the associated contact 71 will be closed. Thus, as the distributor carriage starts to move in the opposite direction, as a result of the rotation of the motor 26, the rod will be moved to a neutral position to open the switch 44 an'd thus de-energize the relay 73. The de-energization of the relay 73 will result in the opening ofthe contact pairs 76 and 77 and closure of the contact pair 78. The opening of the contact pair '76 dc-energizes thetirnin'g device 86 resulting in the opening of thecontaet pair- 87. However, at-this time and priorto the opening of the contact pair 77 associated with the relay '73, a second circuit is completed through the normally-closed contact pairs 69 and 83 and the contact pair 71 to permit the motor 26 to operate when the contact pair 87 is opened by the timer 86 so as to cause the distributor '21 to continue its movement in the direction toward the flange 14 of the reel 12.

At such time as the distributor 21 reaches its opposite limit of movement which corresponds to the left-hand side of the reel 12, the distributor carriage 27 will strike the abutment member 39 to cause the rod 41 to be shifted in a left-hand direction to close the limit switch 46. At this time the relay 72 will be energized which, in turn, will cause the normally-open associated contact pairs 81 and 32 to close and the normally-closed associated contact pair 83 to be opened. The opening 'of the contact pair 83 will break the circuit to the motor relay 67 and result in the distributor carriage 27 coming to a stop while the reel 12 continues to rotate to take up the advancing cable 11.

The closure of the contact pair 81 results in the energization of the circuit including the timing device 86. After a sufiicient interval of time has elapsed in order for two convolutions of the cable 11 to be placed on the reel 12, one on top of the other, the timing contact pair 87 will be closed which will complete a circuit through the contact pairs 82 and 87 to the relay 66. The energization of the relay 66 results in the motor 26 being energized and started in a direction to rotate the distributor screw 22 in the opposite direction to move the distributor 'c'arriage 27 toward the right-hand flange 13 of the reel 12. This operation will continue until such time as the reel 12 has been filled with the desired amount ofthe cable 11. The above-described apparatus is'mer'ely illustrative of the application of the principles of the'present invention. Other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Strand distributing apparatus for transverse movement with respect to the winding surface of a continuously rotating take-up device, which comprises traversing means movable back and forth across the winding surface of the take-up device for guiding the strand uniformly across the winding surface of the take-up device, drive means for effecting reversal of the direction of travel of the traversing means at predetermined positions adjacentto each end of the take-up device, and electrical control means for regulating the reversal of said drive means for causing delayed reversal and dwelling of said traversing means adjacent to each end of the take-up device so that'two convolutions of cable are placed one on top of the other at each end of the take-up device.

2. Strand distributing apparatus for transverse movement with respect to the winding surface of a continuously rotating take-up device, which comprises traversing means movable back and forth across the winding surface of the take-up device of varying sizes for guiding the strand uniformly across the winding surface of the take-up device, drive means for effecting reversal of the direction of travel of the traversing means at predetermined positions adjacent to each end of the take-up device, abutment members positioned adjacent to the ends 'of the take-up device of varying sizes to vary the given limits between which the traversing means are moved to accommodate take-up devices of varying sizes, actuating means operatively connected to abutment members, and electrical control means actuated by the actuating means for regulating the reversal of said drive means for causing delayed reversal and dwelling of said traversing means adjacent to each end of the take-up device so that two convolutions of cable are placed one on top the other at each end 'of the take-up device.

3. Distributing apparatus for guiding strand material -onto a rotatingtake-up reel, whiehcomprises a distributor screw mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the take-up reel, reversible means for driving the distributor screw in timed relation to'the peripherial speed of the winding surface of the reel, guide means engaged threadedly to and motivated by the distributor screw for transverse movement along the winding surface of the reel for forming superimposed layers of convolutions of strand material on the reel, and means-actuated by the transverse movement of the guide means for causing intermittent operation of the reversible drive means and dwelling of the guide means for a predetermined period of time when the guide means is positioned adjacent to the opposing ends of the rotating reel so that two successive convolu tions of the strand material are placed one upon the other adjacent to the opposing ends of the reel.

4. Distributing apparatus for guiding strand material onto a rotating take-up reel, which comprises a distributor screw mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the take-up reel, guide means engaged threadedly to and motivated by the distributor screw for transverse move 'ment along the winding surface of the reel for forming superimposed layers of convolutions of strand material on the reel, reversible means for driving the distributor screw in timed relation to the peripherial speed of the winding surface of the reel and to reverse when the guide means are positioned adjacent to each end of the reel, and means actuated by the transverse movement of the guide means for causing the reversible drive means to become inoperative for a predetermined period prior to reversing when the guide means is positioned adjacent to each end of the rotating reel so that two successive convolutions of the strand material are placed one upon the other adjacent to the opposing ends of the reel.

5. Distributing apparatus for directing strand material onto rotating take-up means, which comprises an automatically operated traversing guide for guiding the strand material back and forth across a winding surface of the take-up means to wind successive layers of convolutions of the strand material in opposite directions with each convolution in close contact with the preceding convolution, means for driving the traversing guide, means for stopping the movement of the traversing guide adjacent to each end of the rotating take-up means, and electrical means for preventing a reversal of the traversing guide until after a predetermined time interval so that successive convolutions of the strand material aresuperimposed at predetermined positions on the take-up means.

6. Strand reeling apparatus for taking up an advancing strand upon a rotatably driven take-up reel, which comprises a take-up reel, a source of supply of strand ma terial, drive means for continuously rotating the reel to take up the strand material, strand guiding means for guiding the strand material onto the winding surface of the reel, means for causing relative reciprocating movement between the winding surface of the reel and the guiding means for forming superimposed layers of convolutions of the strand material on the reel, and electrical means actuated by the relative movement between the strand guiding means and the reel for stopping the means for causing relative reciprocating movement between the winding surface and the guiding means when the guiding means is positioned adjacent to each end of the rotating reel and to prevent the reciprocation of the guiding means from causing relative reciprocating movement for a predetermined time interval so that two successive convolutions of the strand material are placed one on top of the other adjacent to each end of the reel.

7. Distributing apparatus for directing strand material onto rotating take-up means, which comprises an automatically operated traversing guide for guiding the strand material back and forth across a winding surface of the rotating take-up means to wind successive layers of convolutions of the strand material in opposite directions with each convolution in close contact with the preceding convolutoin, means for driving the traversing guide,

and electrical means actuated by the transverse movement of the traversing guide for causing intermittent operation of the driving means for stopping the movement of the traversing guide adjacent to predetermined positions on the rotating take-up means and causing a delayed reversal of the traversing guide after a predetermined time interval so that successive convolutions of the strand material are superimposed at predetermined positions on the take-up means.

8. Distributing apparatus for directing strand material onto rotating take-up means, which comprises an automatically operated traversing guide for guiding the strand material back and forth across a winding surface of the take-up means to wind successive layers of convolutions of the strand material in opposite directions with each convolution in close contact with the preceding convolution, means for driving the traversing guide, and electrical means controlled by the transversemovement of the traversing guide for stopping the movement of the traversing guide adjacent to each end of the takeup means during the continuing rotation thereof and for causing a reversal of the traversing guide after a predetermined time interval so that successive convolutions of the strand material are superimposed at predetermined positions on the take-up means.

9. Strand reeling apparatus for taking up an advancing strand upon a rotatably driven take-up reel, which comprises a take-up reel, a source of supply of strand material, drive means for rotating the reel to take up the strand material, strand guiding means for guiding the strand material onto the winding surface of the reel, means for causing relative reciprocating movement between the winding surface of the reel and the guiding means for forming superimposed layers of convolutions of the strand material on the reel, and electrical means actuated by the relative movement between the strand guiding means and the reel for causing intermittent operation of the means for causing relative reciprocating movement whenthe guiding means is positioned adjacent to each end of the rotating reel to cause the guiding means to dwell for a predetermined interval of time so that two successive convolutions of the strand material are placed one on top of the other adjacent to each end of the reel.

10. A take-up apparatus, which comprises a reel, 3 source of supply of material, means for rotating the reel to take up the material, a distributor carriage mounted for transverse movement axially of the reel and adjacent to the winding surface thereof, a material guiding means mounted on said distributor carriage, means for moving the distributor carriage in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the reel, means actuated by the movement of the carriage for controlling the operation of the distributor carriage, means for stopping the distributor carriage adjacent to each end of the reel during the continuing rotation of the reel, electrical means for preventing a reversal of the distributor carriage until after a predetermined time interval, and means for reversing the movement of the distributor carriage so that two successive convolutions of the material are placed one upon the other adjacent to each end of the reel.

11. A take-up apparatus for advancing continuously strand material to a take-up reel and winding the strand material on the take-up reel, which comprises a source of supply of strand material, a driven take-up reel for reeling the strand material in a series of convolutions along the effective winding surface of the take-up reel, friction rollers for driving the take-up reel, means for causing the rollers through frictional engagement to rotate the reel to take up the strand material with a catenary formed therein for forming tension in the strand material advancing longitudinally from the source of supply to the take-up reel at a predetermined linear speed, means controlled by the catenary for varying the speed of rotaactuated by the shiftable rod in response to the traversing movement of the carriage for causing intermittent operation of the reversible motor to effect a delayed reversal of rotation of the distributor screw at a predetermined point in the path of travel of the distributor carriage adjacent t'o eaeh end of the reel after 'a predetermined interval, and a control circuit for causing the distributor c'a'rria'ge'to stop for the predetermined time interval prior to its end-of-re'el reversal -which includes a timing control 'init iatedliythe distributor carriage actuating the abutment members to lie-energize the reversible drive motor and prevent it from energizing in a reversed direction for the predetermined "time interval, and means to energize the reversible motor in the opposite direction after two convolutions of the strand material are placed one on top of the other at the end of the reel in contact with the reel head.

'12. A take-up apparatus for advancing continuously strand material to a take-up reel and winding the strand material on the take-up reel, which comprises a source of supply of strand material, a driven take-up reel for reeling the strand material in a series of convolutions along the effective winding surface of the take-up reel, a distributor screw mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reel, a reversible motor for rotating the distributor screw in timed relationship to the peripherial speed of the effective winding surface 'of the take-up reel, a distributor carriage engaging threadedly the distributor screw and supported for traverse movement along the winding surface of the take-up reel, means actuated in response to the traversing movement of the carriage for causing intermittent operation of the re versible motor to effect a delayed reversal of rotation 'oft he distributor screw at a predetermined point in the ,path of travel of the distributor carriage adjacent to each end of the reel after a predetermined interval, and a control circuit for causing the distributor carriage to stop for the predetermined time interval prior to its end-ofreel reversal which includes a timing control initiated by the actuation of the distributor carriage, means to deenergize the reversible drive motor and prevent it from energizing in a reversed direction for the predetermined time interval, and means actuated by the timing control to energize the reversible motor in the opposite direction after two convolutions of the strand material are placed 7 one on top of 'theother at the end of the reel in contact with the reel head.

13. A take-up apparatus for advancing continuously strand material to a take-up reel and'winding the "strand material on the take-up reel, which comprises a source of supply of strand material, a driven take-up reel for reeling the strand material in a series of convolutions along the effective winding surface of the take-up reel, means for driving the take-up reel to rotate the reel to take up the strand material at a predetermined linear speed, means for varying the speed of rotation of the take-up reel, a distributor screw mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reel, a reversible motor for rotating the distributor screw in timed relationship to the peripherial speed of the effective winding surface of the take-up reel, a distributor carriage engaging threadedly the distributor screw and supported for traverse movement along the winding surface of the take-up reel, a shiftable rod positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reel, abutting members at opposing ends of the movement of the strand distributing carriage secured adjacent 'to the opposing'ends of the 'shiftable rod, means actuated by the shiftable rod in response to the traversing movement of the carriage for'causing intermittent operation of the reversible motor to effect a delayed reversal of rotation of the distributor screw at -a predetermined point in the path of travel of the distributor carriage adjacent to each end of the reel after a predetermined interval, and a control circuit for causing the distributor carriage to stop for the predetermined time interval prior to its end-ofreel reversal which includes a timing control initiated by the distributor carriage actuating the abutment members to de-energize the reversible drive motor and prevent it from energizing in 'a reversed'direction for the predetermined time interval, and means to energize the reversible motor in the opposite direction after two convolutions of the strand material are placed one on top of the other at the end of the reel in contact with the reel head.

14. Strand distributing apparatus for transverse movement with respect to the winding surface of a continuously rotating take-up device, which comprises traversing means movable back and forth across the effective winding-surface of the take-up device for guiding the strand uniformly across the winding surface of the take-up device, drive means for effecting reversal of the direction of travel of the traversing means at predetermined positions adjacent to each end of said Winding surface, and control means including :a variable timing device for regulating the reversal of the drive means for causing delayed reversing and dwelling of the traversing means adjacent to each end of said winding surface for variable periods of time as the effective diameter of the winding surface of the take-up device varies so that each time the traversing means is reversed two convolutions of cable are placed one on top of the other at the ends of said winding surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,924 Underhill May 25, 1915 2,682,997 Magnuson et a1. July 6, 1954 2,845,229 Bliss July 29, 1958 

